All Forum Posts by: Mathieu Roegiers

@Phyllis Ferrell I would not hesitate too much to go out of state straight away, if you are planning for it at some point, might as well get used to it. It is not more or less time consuming if you have the right project. I'll give you an example: I have real estate in Spain, Abu Dhabi, Belgium, Bali, and NY. And I live in Bali full time. I'm never required to be in any of those places for my properties. 

As for strategy, I'd say it depends on your available time. BRRRR can work well (but you can also burn yourself in the beginning...). But if you handle a full time job, family, and other things, it might not be the best.

Buy and hold of long term real estate with a solid plan can be just as profitable if not more, but typically after some time, when rents have increased with inflation and you start having multiple units, or you get into the refi zone (when property prices have increased). It does take zero of your time, but your profits usually come a bit later than the BRRR method. I tend to notice now with my own portfolio, that it starts to snowball at some point, with almost no time spent, so I can focus on a few other things. You just let time do the heavy lifting. BRRR can be more profitable in the short term, but comes with more risk I believe.

A mix of both is probably the best way to go, if you have enough liquidity. 

My most valuable lesson: have a stellar property manager, so you can focus your attention on growing the portfolio. Take away time-consuming tasks. If you really want to scale a big portfolio, you will not have time to manage it yourself. 

Secondly, from my own experience, you do not need to be where your investment is, so expanding outside of your state makes sense to me. Good luck to you!! 

Hey BiggerPockets community!

Mathieu here - excited to join this incredible network of real estate investors and share what we've been building.

Our Focus: Government-Backed Real Estate with Infrastructure Catalysts

We specialize in a unique niche that combines federal income guarantees with major infrastructure development.  Government reliability meets venture-level upside.

Our current play: Acquiring properties in the Bronx where the $1 billion Metro-North station opens in 2027, cutting commute times to Manhattan from 55 minutes to just 18 minutes.

The Numbers:

• $75M Assets Under Management (300+ units), owning 50 units ourselves
• 14+ years track record with 9.5% average annual appreciation plus double digit yearly ROI
• Federal rental guarantees via HUD VASH (veterans housing program)
• Harvard Business School trained management team
• Buying at $360/sqft vs $1,000+/sqft for comparable commute neighborhoods

Why I'm Here:

Looking to connect with fellow investors who understand government-backed strategies and infrastructure plays. Always interested in discussing:

✅ HUD/Section 8 optimization strategies
✅ Infrastructure-driven appreciation plays
✅ Government program navigation
✅ How to join us as co-investors (from 250 k to 10 million USD) 
✅ Partnership opportunities in similar markets

What I Can Contribute:

• Government program expertise (HUD VASH, Section 8, compliance)
• Infrastructure investment analysis
• Portfolio management systems
• International investor perspectives 

Current Project:

Raising our CPM Bronx Infrastructure Fund I ($25M target) for aggressive pre-station acquisition. If anyone has experience with transit-oriented development or government-backed income streams, would love to connect!

Always happy to share knowledge and learn from this amazing community.

Feel free to reach out if you're working on anything in the government-backed or infrastructure-adjacent space - or if you just want to talk shop about scaling real estate operations! Or if you're simply looking for a safe but great investment from 250 k to 10 000 000. 

Looking forward to contributing here! 🏗️

Hi all, I'm looking for a good CPA in New York that does not charge me fortunes. Currently my CPA charges me 1000 USD for 1 LLC with 1 condo in it, which eats at my positive cash flow. The accounting is really basic for 1 LLC and 1 unit...

I have a second LLC with also 1 condo in it, so my CPA is asking for 2000 USD for this small job.

I am already dealing with a tenant who surfs the moratorium wave and refuses to pay after all my goodwill that started even before covid. 

If any one can recommend a quality CPA that gives me obvious scaling financial benefits and charges more appropriately for the amount of work needed, please share. Thank you! 

Hi all, question has been asked many times before I'm sure, 

but what are you seeing in the market today as best rates for investment properties/commercial loans, on 75% refi? 

I own a few investment properties free and clear, and want to now pull out as much cash as possible to get ready for sales in Q1/Q2 2021. 

I got quoted 4% on 50 % LTV so far, and 6,5% on 75% LTV. (with 2% origination fee, no other hidden fees).

What is your strategy for next year? Get cash ready for sales as well, or am I thinking about this the wrong way?

Thanks

Hi Brett & Andy, thanks, good tip! For commercial rates, you mean 75-80 % I guess? 20 to 25% downpayment? Those would be amazing, but I can't find anything even near that, in NY. Would this also apply to aliens? If you have any leads where to find those, please share. I'd sign for these terms in a second. 

I think my problem is that I'm not a citizen nor resident in the US, so that's an extra challenge, and the condos I invest in are unwarrantable. 

Anyhow, it's ridiculous to have 2 apartments free and clear, so any tips on decent loans are welcome, can't wait to refinance them and buy a few more. 

I assume my lawyer, accountant and broker are correct. They have been trying for 3 months now. I'm not an expert myself in what exactly is required for an alien in tax id nrs. 

Hi all, 

I have an LLC in NY with one apartment. I have, with my brothers, created a new LLC and signed for a second apartment. We are trying to close since March, but due to covid 19, we are still waiting for the Tax ID nr of the newly created LLC. We have been told this will only be in sept/oct, and the seller is getting nervous to close. Quite frankly, so are we.

Would there be legal/tax/Financial implications in closing with the first, already established LLC (of which I am the sole owner), and, as soon as we obtain the Tax ID nr for the second LLC (sept/Oct), transfer this apartment from the existing LLC to the new one (owned by 4 brothers)?

I do not want to attract unnecessary audits, IRS problems, or any other. Fees to transfer should also not outweigh the benefit of closing sooner and getting rental income now already. 

Thanks for all your advice. 

On a separate note, which commercial rates are you guys finding on the market right now? Both apartments were purchased in cash, and we want to refinance both, and buy a few more. However the best (and only) quote so far is 7% fixed (30 yrs) and 60% LTV, which looks quite bad to me.

We are non citizens and non residents so that takes away a few options available to US residents/citizens. 

Randy, many thanks. Love the feedback! (Zero offense taken btw, I want to learn). 

1. Indeed, I always felt I put way too much cash in downpayments in general. Great as I'm not overleveraged at all, but I consume a lot of capital. For this particular one though, it was never the intent to buy all cash, it just had to happen like that as I am not a citizen/resident and we needed to move fast. It is still the plan to refinance in 6 months to a year (whenever we can lock in a great rate)  and get capital out, to redeploy. 

2. A 20% net cash on cash return : very impressive! I am a bit wary of giant returns as, from what I've seen, they tend to be in areas that do not hold very well during recessions, but I'd love to be proven wrong. (I don't want to end up with Clayton Morris style dramas...). 

3. Expenses are kept at minimum. Indeed the 700 usd is a fixed condo cost, property management is free and part of the package when purchasing. The properties run themselves once our tenants are in, and we're keeping a tight control on unnecessary expenses, trying to maximise net returns wherever we can. 

(4. The net return of 6 is a starting point, rents are inflation adjusted. I own 2, was planning to refinance to 7 units total, which means just by scaling, the net return would increase considerably (1 CPA for 7 properties iso 1 CPA for 1 property, 1 bank account for 7 iso 1 for 1, ... etc). I'd expect this to become 7 to 9% in the years to come just by scale and inflation adjusted rent). 

(5. The area has a lot of potential. I never plan on capital gains, but the location is great. (6,5 miles from Central Park in NY..). The high speed train station should be built in about 3 to 5 years, and it has been a big catalyst since the announcement.)

I do love your cash flow performance though. Seems like with a relatively low investment, you are able to pay yourself a solid monthly salary! Enough to quit my job! Feel free to connect if you wanna discuss more. 

Thanks for your input, appreciate it, although not very relevant to my own situation I believe. 

On your first point: I included that in my comparison and discount what I see written down. But the gap between a 6% return and an 11% return is quite big... People don't just embellish their numbers by 5 % 

Second point: that's one of my remarks/questions... Is the chase for better returns worth the hassle, or risk? Or can super returns be achieved with just as little head ache in great areas... ?

Third: I clearly do not have any problem with Analysis Paralysis, I'm still a very little fish, but with 6 properties on 3 continents at age 38, I don't think I'm a hesitater.. Nor do I want to or care one single bit about bragging "down at the club". 

This has nothing to do with anxiety, but yes, I think every one should rethink and question him or herself, in general. It's a natural behaviour if you want to win, to achieve. That does not mean AT ALL that I'm lying awake at night because I absolutely want to match the bragger.

But if there's that much better to be achieved, it would only bring me closer to my goal of financial independence quicker.. 

In general, what interests me more, is the nrs I achieved... Are those low, medium or good returns, how do other people see this deal, will it allow me to achieve what I want quite well or should I try to get better deals....?